First Time Using Off Camera Flash

[BeckyC]

This was uncharted territory for me, so please give me any tips that might help me improve. I really like the way using the flash off camera gives me a sort of 3D look.

Thanks,
Becky

[Padre]

No harsh shadows, no serious highlight burnout, nice i'd say.

[PetersenPhotography]

I agree with Padre, although on my monitor, overall the images look a little bright. Maybe a touch more contrast will do the trick.

I have yet to venture into that new and crazy world of OCF....props to you for sticking your toe in the water!

[Doc-G]

These look great on my monitor. Well done. Could you elaborate a little more on your setup. I love off camera flash and want to get better at it.

G

[Johnny Perkka]

yes, these are on the money..

keep it up!

[felix.reichardt]

wow, they are really 3D. I think you did an awesome job. Question: did you do anything to their skin because its looking very smooth?

[gaopa2]

These are nice photos. I think you did a great job! Cheers, Bill P.

[Austen]

You've done really well Becky, I especially love the one with the rocks in the background !!

Can you share some tips with us please ?


Austen.

[nldunne]

Well done, all!

Did you try to use the flash as a secondary light to the main light while you did these?

[billgovier]

First time? Wow, nice job!
I would try to get a bit less light on the background too.
Manual exposure will give better control if you have the control!
Speed up the shutter speed and the background will get less light.
I'd also get the flash catchlights in the eys touched up.

Keep 'em comming.

Bill

[BeckyC]

Thanks everybody.

My setup? Well, it was 10 am so the sun was behind me and pretty bright. The wasn't a cloud in the sky. I had my flash on a light stand, opposite the sun (if the sun was behind me and on my left, my flash was on my right). I had my shutter speed at 1/125, which I realize now should have been faster. I did have my flash on manual, but I need tips (using small words )for metering this type of set up.

[Rodeoshooter]

Originally Posted by BeckyC

Thanks everybody.

My setup? Well, it was 10 am so the sun was behind me and pretty bright. The wasn't a cloud in the sky. I had my flash on a light stand, opposite the sun (if the sun was behind me and on my left, my flash was on my right). I had my shutter speed at 1/125, which I realize now should have been faster. I did have my flash on manual, but I need tips (using small words )for metering this type of set up.

Good job! Don't you just love the results?

You mention your shutter speed was 1/125th of a second. Were you using manual mode or shutter priority? I would recommend manual and a faster shutter speed. I use 1/250 - 1/500th of a second most often and sometimes up to 1/1250ths of a second depending on how much I want to shut down the daylight. My f-stop varies but most of the time f8 when doing portraits with off camera flash. All of my settings vary depending on the time of day and the amount of light from the sun.

How to meter for this type of setup? FLASH METER! The only way to meter for this as your camera meter will not work with off camera flash unless the flash is connected directly to the camera through a cord or on the hotshoe. My exposures are designed for 1 - 1 1/2 stops under the available light.

It is so easy to do but like dragging the shutter it plays with people's minds and they stay away from it. Play more and enjoy it.

[BeckyC]

Thanks Al!!!

I had my camera on manual, so I should have used a faster shutter speed. I was using a Canon 5d, so the fastest I can go to sync is 200, right? Also, since I was trying to get all three kids in focus, I was concerned about my aperture. I am a completely self-taught photographer. Everything I know, I have learned from reading and lots and lots of practice. But, I want to continue to learn. I just don't always know where to turn for help. I guess I need a personal mentor for those times when smoke starts coming out of my ears.

[captlen]

[quote=BeckyC;493837
I just don't always know where to turn for help. .[/quote]

That is what the Camel is for.

Great shots.

[Not4wood]

You dont know where to turn, how bout look here: Strobist: Welcome to Strobist.

You did very good. As was mentioned but gone over very fast was that the shutter speed controls the background or ambient light. It is too long to discuss here, but you might want to Google Draggin the Shutter as well. Or look for it on the above site.

[patterfr]

Hey these look good, I'd be proud of these. Nice job.
Do you get the dreaded black bar shutter problem with shutter speeds over 250 with off camera flash, ?

[BeckyC]

Mark,
I know Strobist very well. It's a great site. But since David Hobby never seems to use a flash meter, I still need help. I guess where I get lost is when it comes to metering ambient, then knowing exactly where my flash settings should be. For instance, with these group images I metered the ambient with my meter on ambient mode and the shutter speed at (a too slow) 1/125. The meter gave me an ambient reading of f/8. Next I changed my meter to flash mode, kept it at 1/125 but what should my goal have been for the f/stop? I believe I ended up at f/11 but adjusting the flash output.

[BeckyC]

Fran,
Thanks for your comments. I have actually seen the "dreaded black bar" at 200 a few times. What's up with that?

[Rain Lily]

That's what I want to know, Fran.


Nice job, Becky - you must be a natural at this if it's your first time and you did this great!
Sis

[BeckyC]

Thanks Sis!